Deuteronomy chapter 3
In all the years of their desert travels, the pillar of fire by night and the pillar of cloud by day never parted from the Israelites. This was a constant reminder of God’s awesome power.Merely two years after coming out of Egypt, the children of Israel refused to enter their promised land because they saw giants in the land!
This is a reminder to all of us to keep our focus on the Lord. Focusing on your circumstances can eat away your confidence in God and cause you to miss out on your Divine inheritance.
Forty years of desert wanderings did two things - one, it purified the camp from rebellion and unbelief. Two, it matured their character and strengthened their resolve to do God's will.
Desert trials does something to you. It purifies your motives and strengthens your faith in the Lord until you rise up in the power of the Holy Spirit.
Never underestimate your wilderness trials because overcoming them will make you a giant slayer.
David was a wilderness shepherd before he became a Goliath slayer.
While running away from king Saul for many years, David lived in caves, barren lands, mountains and other inhospitable locations. "Then all the people in distress, in debt or embittered began gathering around him, and he became their leader; there were about four hundred with him." (1 Samuel 22:2, CJB)
From this band of ragtag characters came forth some of the greatest warriors in Israel. Under David's wings, the once undesirables and doldrums became the thirty mighty men of David. Giant slayers and invincibles.
Here’s a few of them: (1 Chronicles 11:11-25)
Here’s a few of them: (1 Chronicles 11:11-25)
Jashobeam using only his spear killed 300 men in a single encounter.
Eleazar (with David) killed numerous Philistines while defending a field of barley.
Three of the mighty men broke through the Philistine army and through the gate only to draw water for David!
Abishai weilding a spear killed 300 men.
Benaiah was a man of many exploits. He killed two lion-hearted men of Moab, killed a lion on a snowy day and killed a 7 1/2 feet tall Egyptian. Benaiah was a giant slayer!
Jesus Christ fasted for forty days and nights in the wilderness and came out in the power of the Holy Spirit. (Luke 4:14) It may be said that our Lord Jesus was redeeming the 40 years of Israelite rebellion and unbelief in the wilderness, one day for each year.
Overcoming your trials again and again will make you strong, mature and unshakable.
In Deuteronomy chapter three, 40 years of desert training made their faith immovable. After crushing Sihon king of Hesbon, they cut down Og king of Bashan, a ferocious giant more than 11 feet tall!
“So the LORD our God also handed over to us Og the king of Bashan with all his people, and we defeated him until he had no one left. At that time we captured all his cities, all the region of Argov, the kingdom of Og in Bashan; all of them fortified cities with high walls, gates and bars - in addition to a great number of unwalled towns. We completely destroyed them, as we did with Sihon king of Heshbon, annihilating every city.” Deuteronomy 3:3-6, CJB
King Og was the last survivor of the giant-kind or “rephaim” (Deuteronomy 3:11). While Og was the only one mentioned, his relatives and other subjects were also of the giant-kind. It may also be possible that Sihon and Og were relatives. Deuteronomy 2:20 indicates that their territories were the land of the giants. The Israelites annihilated them.
The map below shows the extent of the territory that the children of Israel possessed while en route to the Promised Land.
The vast lands they conquered became the inheritance of Reuben, Gad and half-tribe of Manasseh. (Highlighted in red, purple and brown. Map taken from the Bible Atlas, Access Foundation, Zaine Ridling, Ph.D., Editor)
The children of Israel became so successful that Moses yearned with all his soul for God to allow him to enter the promised land. As you may recall, Moses was barred from entering the Promised Land for dishonoring the Lord in Kadesh Barnea at the Meribah springs. (http://richardnillo.blogspot.com/2011/09/can-leaders-miss-mark-too.html)
Learn to recount your past victories. Write them in your heart. Stay away from evil.
“Your eyes have seen everything that the LORD your God has done to these two kings. The LORD will do the same to all the kingdoms you encounter when you cross over. Don’t be afraid of them, because the LORD your God will fight on your behalf.” (Deuteronomy 3:21-22,CJB)
Your testimonies of God’s miracles in the past gives impetus to greater victories in the future.
Joshua and Caleb, the only successful desert wanderers in their generation, experienced the fullness of God’s promises.
At 110 years old, Joshua testified, “not one of all the good things the LORD your God said concerning you has failed to happen; it has all come to pass; nothing of it has failed.” (Joshua 23:14, CJB)
IMPORTANT NOTE:
The Israelites traveled through the King’s highway toward the Promised Land.
Why did Sihon and Og, roused all his army to fight Moses when the Israelites just wanted safe passage?
According to the Bible Atlas, this highway was a trade route of spices and perfumes and other goods coming from the Arabian Peninsula. Whoever controls this land excises taxes on the goods brought in for commerce. Who would dare challenge the giants?
Moses told the two kings that he was not a merchant but a nation simply passing through to claim an inheritance in the land of Canaan. Moses and the children of Israel would pay for everything they consume including food and water. Moses and the Israelites are exempt from tributes and other taxes. Moses did not express any feeling of intimidation, just showing dignity and honor.
By now, the fearsome reputation of the LORD in behalf of Israel gained renown in these parts. Egypt and Amalek were already reduced to nothing. But Sihon and Og would have none of it. Crushing the Israelites in battle would bring in for them vast treasures and multitude of slaves.
Perhaps due to greed or pride, they falsely thought that mighty fortresses and sheer size would bring them invincibility. But the name of the LORD is the true banner of Victory - Jehovah Nissi (The LORD is my Banner). Sihon and Og took the death blow.
When you walk through the King's Highway, the giants at the gateway of God's promises will oppose you. They will come like a devouring lion. But rise up in the name of the Lord and resist them in the power of the Holy Spirit. You shall conquer, amen:) (1 Peter 5:8-11)
The King’s Highway
To spiritualize, the King’s Highway is the Lord’s Highway of Holiness.
“A highway shall be there, and a road, and it shall be called the Highway of Holiness. The unclean shall not pass over it… But the redeemed shall walk there.” (Isaiah 35:8-9, CJB)
It is important to note that the King’s Highway is ‘a must’ before you reach your Promised Land. Before you can obtain your fullness of blessings, you need to walk in holiness.
The Highway of Holiness trains you to be godly
“Whoever walks the road, although a fool, shall not go astray.” (Isaiah 35:8, NKJV)
For [our parents] disciplined us only for a short time and only as best they could; but [our Heavenly Father] disciplines us in a way that provides genuine benefit to us and enables us to share in his holiness. Now, all discipline, while it is happening, does indeed seem painful, not enjoyable; but for those who have been trained by it, it later produces its peaceful fruit, which is righteousness. (Hebrews 12:10-11, CJB)
“Keep pursuing shalom with everyone and the holiness without which no one will see the Lord.” (Hebrews 12:14, CJB)
Walking on the HIghway of Holiness brings Divine Protection and Retribution:
“Israel was holiness to the Lord, the firstfruits of His increase. All that devour him will offend; Disaster will come upon them," says the Lord." (Jeremiah 2:3, NKJV)
“No lion shall be there, nor shall any ravenous beast go up on it; it shall not be found there.” (Isaiah 35:9, NKJV)
The Spirit of holiness brings about God’s power
“and [Jesus Christ] declared to be the Son of God with power according to the Spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead.” (Romans 1:4-5, NKJV)
The Highway of Holiness brings forth beauty, joy and gladness.
Give unto the Lord the glory due to His name; worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness. (Psalm 29:2, NKJV)
And the ransomed of the Lord shall return, and come to Zion with singing, with everlasting joy on their heads. They shall obtain joy and gladness, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away. (Isaiah 35:10, NKJV)
The King’s Highway of Holiness will bring you to your Promised Land
"But on Mount Zion there shall be deliverance, and there shall be holiness; the house of Jacob shall possess their possessions. (Obadiah 17, NKJV)
Some people call it “old fashioned,” or even “irrelevant.” But holiness will never be irrelevant nor impractical. God’s Holy Highway is the safest passage to His fullness of blessings.
God has no other highway but holiness. “The unclean will not pass over it.”
If you call yourself a Christian yet behave in an ungodly manner, you will never obtain God’s promises. Trouble, sorrow and defeat will mark your days. What more? You are living a lie. Shape up and get back to godliness. Make up your mind and walk in the righteousness marked out for you in Christ Jesus.
As the old time saints used to say, “Take time to be holy.”
Slay your giants as you march in the King’s Highway of Holiness. The giants of lust of the eyes, lust of the flesh and the pride of life will oppose you greatly but take heart, the Lord will fight with you.
“So get rid of all the filth and evil in your lives, and humbly accept the word God has planted in your hearts, for it has the power to save your souls. But don't just listen to God's word. You must do what it says. Otherwise, you are only fooling yourselves.” (James 1:21-23, NLT)
As people who obey God, do not let yourselves be shaped by the evil desires you used to have when you were still ignorant. On the contrary, following the Holy One who called you, become holy yourselves in your entire way of life; since the Scripture says, “You are to be holy because I am holy.” (1 Peter 1:14-16, CJB)
“ And remember that the heavenly Father to whom you pray has no favorites. He will judge or reward you according to what you do. So you must live in reverent fear of him during your time as "foreigners in the land." (1 Peter 1:17, NLT)
Now all glory to God, who is able to keep you from falling away and will bring you with great joy into his glorious presence without a single fault.
All glory to him who alone is God, our Savior through Jesus Christ our Lord. All glory, majesty, power, and authority are his before all time, and in the present, and beyond all time! Amen.” (Jude 24-25, NLT)
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